To All The Boys I Ve Loved Before – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

To All The Boys I Ve Loved Before

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2018

77%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

The Netflix rom-com that made everyone want to write secret love letters and bake with their sisters—wholesome teen swooning at its finest.

96%

7.6

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To All The Boys I Ve Loved Before

movie

PG-13, 2018

77%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

The Netflix rom-com that made everyone want to write secret love letters and bake with their sisters—wholesome teen swooning at its finest.

96%

7.6

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96%

7.6

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Screenwise Verdict

This is the platonic ideal of a safe teen rom-com—sweet, diverse, funny, and genuinely watchable without making parents cringe or worry. It's not going to teach your kid calculus, but it models healthy family relationships, cultural pride, and the messy vulnerability of first love in ways that feel authentic.

The 2018 release means it's recent enough to feel current to modern tweens/teens (unlike, say, trying to get them to watch 16 Candles with its deeply problematic vibes). It sparked a whole Netflix teen rom-com renaissance for good reason.

If you've got a tween or teen interested in romance stories, this is about as wholesome as it gets while still being entertaining. The worst thing your kid will want after watching is to bake Korean yogurt smoothies and maybe organize their old journals—which, honestly, could be worse.

Age Fit

Best for ages 10-16, hitting the sweet spot for tweens ready for gentle romance and teens who want something lighter. Younger kids won't get the emotional nuance, older teens might find it a bit juvenile, but it's a solid comfort watch across the range.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Sweet, age-appropriate teen romance that models genuine vulnerability, family connection, and navigating first relationships with kindness. Lara Jean's close relationship with her sisters and father provides healthy family dynamics. The tone is warm and optimistic without being saccharine, and the pacing is balanced. Some mild teen drama and social anxiety moments, but handled with emotional maturity.

Imaginative

The premise of secret love letters being mailed out is creative and drives an engaging 'what if' scenario. The film adapts a popular YA novel and brings a fresh Asian-American protagonist to the mainstream rom-com genre, which was relatively novel in 2018. However, it follows fairly standard rom-com beats and doesn't push boundaries in storytelling or invite active creative participation from viewers beyond emotional investment.

Safe

Very safe for the teen rom-com genre. No graphic content, violence, or disturbing themes. Some kissing and teen romance, but nothing sexual or inappropriate. Mild social drama and embarrassment (the letter premise creates awkward situations), but no bullying or cruelty. The main tension comes from miscommunication and social anxiety rather than anything genuinely threatening. A few mild swears at most. No surprise traumatic content.

Enriching

Offers meaningful themes about authenticity, vulnerability, and the courage to be honest about feelings. Shows a positive portrayal of a Korean-American family and representation matters for Asian teens who rarely saw themselves as rom-com leads in 2018. Models healthy communication (eventually) and the importance of family bonds. Addresses grief (deceased mother) with sensitivity. Entertaining and emotionally engaging, teaching empathy and the messiness of growing up, though not particularly challenging or skill-building.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely sweet without being cringy—models healthy family relationships and sibling bonds that feel real
Representation win: an Asian-American lead in a mainstream rom-com was refreshingly overdue in 2018
Addresses vulnerability and honesty in relationships in age-appropriate ways that can spark good conversations
The embarrassment premise is relatable without being cruel—no mean girls, just awkward teen social navigation
Entertaining enough that tweens/teens will actually want to watch it, making it a solid family movie night pick

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What to Watch For

It's a romance, so there's kissing and teen relationship drama—fine for most middle schoolers, but know your kid's maturity level
The premise involves fake dating and some deception, which resolves positively but might need context for younger viewers
Mild social anxiety and embarrassment throughout—if your kid struggles with that, it might hit close to home
Some grief themes (deceased mother) handled gently but present in the background

Conversation Starters

"If someone read your private thoughts or feelings, how would you want them to handle it?"
"What do you think about Lara Jean's relationship with her sisters? How does your sibling dynamic compare?"
"The movie shows how pretending can sometimes lead to real feelings—have you ever experienced something similar?"
"Why do you think Lara Jean wrote letters instead of telling people how she felt? What are other ways to process emotions?"
"How does the movie show Korean-American culture in their family? What traditions does your family have?"

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